African – Super Geese
Price range: $110.00 through $230.00All African geese originate in China and our Super African is an exact replica of the Lion Head goose of China. Looking at pictures and drawings from 150 years ago, it is striking how little the breed has changed. It is large with a well developed dewlap. As they are a bit more vocal than other breeds, and larger, the Super African might be the best guard goose we have.
African Geese
$23.00The African goose originated from the wild Asian Swan Goose of China. It was introduced into Europe in the late 1700s and into the USA in the mid 1800s. The original Lion Head breed of goose in China is the same shape and coloration as our African geese. How these geese from China got the name African has always been puzzling. Apparently, it was usual to apply the term “Guinea” to anything foreign and of uncertain origin. As Guinea is off the coast of Africa, it appears the African goose got its name in a similar way.
Buff Geese
Price range: $32.00 through $64.00It is interesting that the buff color is not common in wild waterfowl. Most other domestic and wild geese have combinations of white, gray and black coloring.
The Buff goose was developed for commercial meat production and the claim is that their feathers are easier to remove than white, gray or black feathers as they are less strongly rooted. The remaining pin feathers are so light in color, the carcass is as clean appearing as a white goose. Buffs are a calm, friendly breed and beautiful to watch – especially in a reddish orange sunset.
Chinese – Brown Geese
Price range: $30.00 through $64.00As with the African and Super African goose, the Brown Chinese goose originates in China from the wild Asiatic Swan goose. The Brown Chinese is the smallest breed of goose we have. They are light and elegant. It is interesting, however, that they seem to have the most pronounced knob on their head of any African or Chinese geese.
Chinese – White Geese
Price range: $20.00 through $40.00As with the African goose, the Chinese goose originates in China from the wild Asiatic Swan goose. The most distinguishing feature of the Chinese and African geese is their raised knob. Interestingly, the wild Swan goose does not have this feature. It must have been developed after domestication. As the knob is soft skin and not scaly, it is warm to the touch. White Chinese are the most prolific egg laying geese and it is not unusual to have them lay in the fall or winter. Earlier records have egg production of 50-60 eggs per year, with exceptional birds laying 100 eggs. This is now extremely rare, with most Chinese geese laying from 30-45 eggs.
Embden Geese
Price range: $24.00 through $40.00Because of their fast growth rate, large size and white feathers, Embden are the most common goose used for commercial meat production. Their feet and beak are orange but their eyes are a distinct blue. Due to their large size and breeding, they are a strong breed. At hatching time you can be quite accurate in sexing the day olds from their coloration as the gray down in the males is lighter than in the females. As adults, however, both sexes are pure white and the only way you can determine the sex is the males are normally larger, more pompous and proud in their carriage and shriller in their voices (as with other goose breeds).
Pilgrim Geese
Price range: $30.00 through $70.00Pilgrims are the only domestic goose breed in which you can distinguish males from females at any age. As babies, the males are yellow and light gray with lighter colored bills, much like a day old Embden or Sebastopol. The day old female’s down is a deeper gray/green with a darker bill like a Toulouse.
Roman Tufted Geese
Price range: $30.00 through $64.00The Roman breed appears to have originated in Italy and is one of the oldest breeds. It is not a large goose and is actually classified as a light breed for show purposes. It was credited for saving the Capitol at Rome during the siege by the Gauls in the fourth century BC. During the night, the assailants climbed to the summit, hoping to take it by surprise. The dogs slept but not the geese. The honking of the geese awakened Marcus Manlius and the intruders were repelled.
Sebastopol Geese
Price range: $110.00 through $240.00Sebastopol are probably our most unique appearing goose. You would think that a bird such as this would have been bred fairly recently but actually they have been around for hundreds of years. Their origin is thought to be from the countries surrounding the Black Sea, Hungary and the Balkans. They were known early on in England as Danubian and the Spanish and Italians referred to the breed as Danubio due to importations from the lower Danube river area. How they got the name Sebastopol is a mystery other than some of the first birds may have been imported from the port of Sebastopol.
Toulouse – Buff Geese
Price range: $38.00 through $70.00Buff Toulouse Geese have the beautiful coloring and disposition of Buffs, but have the bigger size and dewlap of the Large Dewlap Toulouse. This is a rare coloration making it a very distinctive Toulouse.
Toulouse – French Geese
Price range: $20.00 through $40.00We imported Toulouse breeding stock from France in 2006 and have been offering their progeny for the last couple of years. They are not an exhibition Toulouse, they are a utility goose that are very hardy and are grown commercially in France.
Toulouse – Large Dewlap Geese
Price range: $110.00 through $240.00The Large Dewlap Toulouse was developed from the common Toulouse goose in the 1850’s in England for exhibition purposes. Their unique characteristics are the large dewlap of skin hanging below their beak, a deep keel hanging from their breast and two lobes in their full paunch. They continue growing for several years and do not reach their peak development until they are at least three years old.
